F/CMVSS Noncompliance-Child Seat Attachment

General Motors has decided that certain 2001 Pontiac Aztek/Montana, Chevrolet Venture and Oldsmobile Silhouette model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 225, Child Restraint Anchorage Systems. These vehicles may have second row seat lower anchorages that exceed the diameter requirement. Certain aftermarket child seats with "hard anchors" may not fit the anchorages. If the connector for a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached correctly to the anchorage points, the restraint will not be able to protect a child sitting there in a crash.

Dealers are to inspect the lower anchorages and, if necessary, modify them to meet specifications.

Involved are certain 2001 Pontiac Aztek/Montana, Chevrolet Venture and Oldsmobile Silhouette model vehicles equipped with AQ4 Captains chairs, AM7 50/50 Split bench and ABC, ABD Captains chairs and built within these VIN breakpoints:

Important: Dealers should confirm vehicle eligibility through GMVIS before beginning recall repairs. [Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.]

Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number. Computer listings containing the complete Vehicle Identification Number, customer name and address data have been prepared, and are being furnished to involved dealers with the recall bulletin. The customer name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow up with customers involved in this recall. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the recall bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.

These dealer listings may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this recall.

Rework existing child seat attachment, no parts required.

Beginning the week of April 01, 2002, each dealer will be shipped a latch wire re-sized, J 45920, for use in this recall. This tool is being furnished at no charge.

To perform the following procedure, recall tool J 45920, Car Seat Anchor Resizer is required. Obtain the tool prior to beginning this procedure.

The following procedure applies to second row captains' chairs in vans or second row captains' chairs or second row split bench seats in Aztek's. When equipped with these types of seats, there will be FOUR anchor locations to inspect in each vehicle.

1. Open the side door to access the seats in the second row.



2. Fully recline the seat back to access the two anchors (1) in the seat. On vehicles with a split bench, tool access for the inspection can be improved by tilting the seat back forward.

Important: The size of the slot in the adjusting knob on the handle of J 45920 (car seat anchor resizer) is a calibrated dimension. This calibrated dimension is used to determine whether the thickness of each seat anchor is oversized or not in the next step.




3. Measure the thickness of the seat anchor by inserting it into the calibrated slot in the adjusting knob on the handle of the J 45920. Repeat the measuring process on the other THREE seat anchors in the second row of the vehicle.

•	If an anchor fits completely inside the calibrated slot, NO resizing is necessary on THAT anchor location.

•	If an anchor does NOT fit completely inside the calibrated slot, resizing IS necessary on THAT anchor location.

Important: To perform the resizing procedure on captains chairs, the seat back must be fully reclined. On split bench seats, the resizing procedure can be done either with the seat back fully reclined or with the seat back folded forward and the anchors accessed from the back side of the seat.

1. With the seat back fully reclined, cover the area around the seat anchor(s) that need to be resized with clean shop towels.

Important: The jaws on recall tool J 45920 (car seat anchor resizer) are designed and required for resizing the anchor to the correct thickness in the next steps. Do NOT attempt to perform the operation by any other means (file, grinder, etc.).

Important: On split bench seats it will be necessary to depress the seat back padding when installing the tool on the anchor in the next step.




2. Install J 45920 on the anchor as shown. Adjust the knob on the handle until the jaws of the tool fit snug on the anchor when the handle is closed and locked.
3. Release (unlock) the handle and allow the jaws of the tool to open.
4. Turn the adjusting knob clockwise between 1/4 and 1/2 turn to increase the grip on the anchor.

Important: If you are not able to close and lock the handle in the next step, turn the adjusting knob back slightly (counterclockwise) until you can lock the handle.

5. Close the jaws of the tool on the anchor and squeeze the handle as necessary to lock the handle.



6. Move the handle of the tool upwards until it contacts the towels on the fully reclined seat back. Then move the handle back down until it contacts the towels on the seat cushion. Repeat this up and down action several times. At this point, amounts of metal shavings should be visible on the jaws on the tool.
7. Unlock the handle and turn the adjustment knob another 1/4 to 1/2 turn clockwise.



8. Close and lock the handle and repeat Steps 6 and 7 until the jaws of the tool are completely closed (1) around the anchor when then handle is locked.
9. Carefully check any "resized" anchors for sharp edges or burrs and, if found, remove them using apiece of emery cloth (paper).
10. Clean the resized anchor and using a BLACK felt-tip paint marker or touch-up paint, apply a thin coating to the exposed metal on the anchor. Allow to dry to 60 seconds before proceeding to the next step.
11. Measure the thickness of the resized anchor by carefully inserting it into the calibrated slot in the adjusting knob on the tool handle.

•	If an anchor fits completely inside the calibrated slot, the anchor is now the correct thickness.

•	If an anchor does NOT fit completely inside the slot, the re-sizing operation was not performed correctly. Repeat Steps 1-10 of the resizing procedure on THAT anchor location.

12. Repeat the operation on any other anchors that were found to need resizing during the inspection procedure.
13. Carefully remove the shop towels and clean up the area(s) using a shop vacuum.
14. Leave seat back in the fully reclined position until paint coating applied in Step 10 is fully dry.
15. Reposition the seat back(s) to the upright position.
16. Open the hood and install the GM Recall Identification Label.

Place a Recall Identification Label on each vehicle in accordance with the instructions outlined in this Product Recall Bulletin. Each label provides a space to include the recall number and the five (5) digit dealer code of the dealer performing the recall service. This information may be inserted with a typewriter or a ball point pen.

Put the Recall Identification Label on a clean and dry surface of the radiator core support in an area that will be visible to people servicing the vehicle. When installing the Recall Identification Label, be sure to pull the tab to allow the adhesion of the clear protective covering. Additional Recall Identification Labels for US dealers can be obtained from Dealer Support Materials by calling 1-866-700-0001 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST). Ask for Item Number S-1015 when ordering.

Submit a Product Recall Claim with the information indicated below:

Refer to the General Motors WINS Claim Processing Manual for details on Product Recall Claim Submission.

The General Motors Courtesy Transportation program is intended to minimize customer inconvenience when a vehicle requires a repair that is covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within the warranty coverage period and involved in a product recall is very important in maintaining customer satisfaction. Dealers are to ensure that these customers understand that shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation is available and will be provided at no charge. Dealers should refer to the General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual for Courtesy Transportation.

Customers will be notified of this recall on their vehicles by General Motors (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle that is subject to a recall of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty days after tender of a vehicle is prima facie evidence of failure to repair within a reasonable time. If the condition is not adequately repaired within a reasonable time, the customer may be entitled to an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle at no charge or to a refund of the purchase price less a reasonable allowance for depreciation. To avoid having these burdensome remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. In the recall notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the recall is not completed within a reasonable time.

This bulletin is notice to you that the new motor vehicles included in this recall may not comply with the standard identified above. Under Title 49, Section 30112 of the United States Code, it is illegal for a dealer to sell a new motor vehicle which the dealer knows does not comply with an applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. As a consequence, if you sell any of these motor vehicles without first performing the recall correction, your dealership may be subject to a civil penalty for each such sale.

ALL

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this recall MUST be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this recall bulletin BEFORE customers take possession of these vehicles.

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this recall at no charge to customers, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Customers who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer. Arrangements are to be made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. This could be done by mailing to such customers a copy of the customer letter accompanying this bulletin. Recall follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, please take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Dear General Motors Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

General Motors has decided that certain 2001 Pontiac Aztek/Montana, Chevrolet Venture and Oldsmobile Silhouette model vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 225, Child Restraint Anchorage Systems. These vehicles may have second row seat lower anchorages that exceed the diameter requirement. You may not be able to install certain child seats using the LATCH (Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children) system. If the connector for a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached correctly to the anchorage points, the restraint will not be able to protect a child sitting there in a crash.

Dealers are to inspect the lower anchorages and, if necessary, modify them to meet specifications. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

Until this service is performed, follow the child seat manufacturer's instructions for checking to see that a LATCH-type child restraint is installed securely. If there is any questions, secure the child restraint with the safety belts , following the instructions of the child seat manufacturer and your vehicle's owner's manual.

The length of time required to perform this inspection and service correction is approximately 15 to 30 minutes. Additional time may be required to schedule and process your vehicle. If you dealer has a large number of vehicles awaiting service, this additional time may be significant. Please ask your dealer if you wish to know how much additional time will be needed schedule, process, and repair your vehicle.

Please contact your dealer as soon as possible to arrange a service date. Instructions for making this correction have been sent to your dealer.

Your dealer is best equipped to obtain parts and provide services to correct your vehicle as promptly as possible. Should your dealer be unable to schedule a service date within a reasonable time, you should contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below:

If, after contacting the appropriate customer assistance center, you are still not satisfied that we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20590 or call 1-888-327-4236.

The attached customer reply card identifies your vehicle. Presentation of this card to your dealer will assist in making the necessary correction in the shortest possible time. If you no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the attached and mailing it in the postage paid envelope.

Your dealer may provide you with shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation while your vehicle is at the dealership for this repair. Please refer to your Owner's Manual and your dealer for details on Courtesy Transportation.

We are sorry to cause you this inconvenience; however, we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

General Motors Corporation

Enclosure